Concrete and like block making



. 'Aug; l, 1933.

" W. SCHAFER CONCRETE AND LIKE BLOCK MAKING MACHINE Filed July 7, 1932 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Ftg.1

Aug. 1, 1933. w. SCHAFER' I CONCRETE AND LIKE BLOCK MAKING MACHINE FiledJuly 7, 1952 '5 Sheets-Sheet 2 '3 nv'e filo r wilhelm Schifer m fiklorpeAug. 1, 1933. w. SCHAFE'R 1,920,716

CONCRETE AND LIKE BLOCK MAKING MACHINE Filed July 7, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet3 Fig.5

3 1111911101 Wflhelm Sehc'ifer pltprneg Aug. 1, 1933. w. scHAFER1,920,716

CONCRETE AND LIKE BLOCK MAKING MACHINE Filed July '7, 1932 5Sheets-Sheet 4 "lhnuenlor v Wilhelm Senfer Aug. 1, 1933. w. scHAFER1,920,716

CONCRETE AND LIKE BLOCK MAKING MACHINE Filed July '7, 1932 5Sheets-Sheet 5 15 1 15 1a 15 an 15 '5 nv Qnto r Wilhelm Schfer flkkormiPatented Aug. 1, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application July 7,1932, Serial No. 621,241. and in Germany March 28, 1931 4 Claims. (01.215-411 This invention relates to improvements in the methods of andmeans for manufacturing concrete and like blocks, floor plates and thelike either with or without reinforcing material, such 5 as wires. rodsor expanded metal and with or without cores or hollow spaces therein.The invention is more particularly directed to improvementsin the knowntype of machine for the manufacture of such building blocks, in whichthe blocks are made in successive piles or layers;

usually with a layer of paper or the like separating the blocks of onelayer from. those of the superposed layer. In such machines it is knownto employ a travelling frame or bogie which supports the tampingmechanism and the filling hopper for the concrete or the like. It isalso known to provide means for tensioning the reinforcing material, toemploy traversing core pieces and to provide removable side plates forthe mould into which the concrete is run.

It is characteristic of the known apparatus that all the operations arecarried out successively at time intervals and do not automaticallyfollow one another. The methods of operation adopted operation of allthe steps at a single forward travhopper and'the tamping machine.

The chief feature of the present invention re- 7 3 sides in the factthat all the necessaryv operations proceed automaticallyanduninterruptedly during the forward travel of the bogie and for theentire length of the travel. These operations are: r l 1. The filling ofthe-concrete into the mould.

2. Tamping the concrete to consolidate it.

4. Guiding and supporting the reinforcement at the desired height orheights.

5. Forming the cores and withdrawing the side plates of the mould. r

6. Drawing out the reinforcement for the next layer of blocks or platesto be. formed. The apparatus comprises:-- r (a) The t'ravelling bogie orframe. (b) The mechanically driven tamping machine. (0) Two or morelines of forming beds arranged in parallel and of any desired length.

(d) A frame at the front end of the forming line for receiving thereinforcingmaterial.

tensioning the said material.

In operation, before laying the concreteon the first or bottom layer ofblocks, the reinforcement did not permit of simultaneous and mechanical.

ment clampsin section (6) A device at the rear end for stretching 0rreinforcement till it is clamped and cut.

reinforcement in thedesired positions. The machine or bogie travelsbackidle on its return traverse. On its second. forward travel, which is itsoperative vmovement, after the hopper has beenfilled, the first layer ofplates or blocks is produced and at the same time the reinforcement forthenext following layer is drawn out. The operation is repeated eitheron the same or ona parallel. lineuntil the whole pile is formed.

The long plates formed in lines in this manner are divided afteradequate setting or hardening of the concrete into the required lengths.The separate layers or long plates are kept apart by an interposed layerof paper or the like.

The improved process is characterized primarily'by causing the corepieces which are carried by the bogie in its forward travel to moveforwards relatively to the bogie, preferably with a jerking movement-andarranging a tamping 7 action'arid surface dressing and smoothing deviceto'operate in the rear of the shares which carry the said core pieces. Afurther' characteristic consists in the drawing out of the reinforcementmaterial for the next successive layer during the operative forwardtravel which lays the concrete or the like in the mould, after the saidlaying'operation the reinforcement being cut and'clamped iii the desiredstretched positions in. the mould. I r r The novel features of'theimproved method of manufacturing concrete blocks'and the apparatus forcarrying out that method will be two parallel form lines are shown.Inthese 3. Applying a smoothing layer and operation.

draWingsf- Figure 1 is a ,section transverse toythe lines of the forms.i I

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section showing the bogieor traversing framewhich carries the hopper and tamping machine.

bogie being omitted. i

I Figure 4 is a diagrammatic plan of "Figure 3. 3 Figure 5 is adetailView showing the reinforce- ,Figure 6 is an end viewin'elevation' of theclampsshown in Figure'5..

Figure 71s a diagrammatic view showing the reinforcement stretchingmeans for holding the 1 v to work alternatively on the uprights 45 in 33is'e'ffected by power in I The laying and tamping of the blocks orplates Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional elevation and- Figure 9 is asectional plan showing the stamping machine and core operatingmechanism.

Figure 10 is an end elevation of the tamping machine and shows the formin section. Y

Figure 11 is a view similar tothe lower part of Figure 10 and shows amodified form in which the side plates of the form are moved with thecore pieces; In this figure also the long plate is divided in two partslongitudinally.

The apparatus comprises the tamping machine proper q and a concretehopper 2 rigidly connected therewith. These parts are mounted on atravelling frame or bogie 3 which is provided with forward and rearwardtravelling gear, the forward direction of travel being from left toright in Figure2'.

To en'able'the tamping machine and hopper one or other of the twoparallel lines of forms; which are shown between Figure 1, these partsare trav-' ersible transversely on the bogie 3. Suitable locking meansmaybe provided to arrest the transverse traversing frame 5 directly overone orv other ofthe form lines. The transverse travel of the frame 5 iseffectedby hand from a crank or. the like operable from, a platform 51).The longitudinal travel of the main bogie or frame any well knownmanner.

iscarrie'd out in layers superposed one on the other, for which purposethe tamping machine and hopper ered. Guide bars 4 fixed on thetraversing frame are also adapted to be raised or low- 5 guide the.vertical movement of the frame which supports the tamping machine andhopper 2 whilstthe actual hoisting is effected by' the gear indicatedat,6'(Figs. 1 and '2).

' For regulating' the outflowof concrete from the hopper 2 a slide 8 isadjustablyfmounted on the outflow branch 7.

The concrete blocks are tamped by the stampring: feet'9 operated from anelectric motor 10 through the gear indicated at 11. Aig'uide plate 12located in front of the outflowbranch'in the forward direction of travelof the bogie 3' is provided, for holding the reinforcement indicated aswires or rods 53 in the proper planes whilst the concrete is beingfilled in place. At the rear side of the bogie 3', there is a ing outthe'wires'for the next following layer during the laying of the concreteon any-given layer. The round or oval tubes 14, 15 are 10- tubes aresupported on plough through the concrete. These tubes are for catedbeneath the level of the stamping heads '9 at about the mid-height ofthe block and these shares 21, 22 which the purpose of forming the coresor hollow spaces within the blocks. the concrete between the front andthe rear stamping head 9. The furrow made by the shares is thus tampedby the rear tamping head. In the rear of the rearward stamping head 9,there is a container 1-6 for fine cement or grouting which is laid onthe tamped surface of the block and spread and smoothed over by asmoother 1'7 '(see Fig.2) which is operated in any'well known manner togive a properlyflnished surface to the block.

The shares 21, 22 are fixed to frame 'bars 18, 19

which are guided in the runner girder 20-"the alternately. These levers26 are connected by device 13 for drawletter .53 are led up to a wire orlike rope The shares '21, 22 penetrate connecting rods 27 with theframes 18 and 19 so that the said frames are moved alternately andsimilarly the two tube groups, 14 and 15 are also alternatelymoved. Thismovement is relative to the forward travel of the bogie 3 and ispreferably of a rapid or jerking nature. In this manner it is possibleto form the cores or hollow spaces in the blocks, as it is found ontrial that with a steady forward movement of the tubes in company withthe bogie, the concrete passing from the hopper 2 is not allowed tosettle on the bottom of the mould but is carried along with the tubes.It is also of advantage to arrange the tubes in groups, two or more, asthis tends further to prevent defective settling of the concrete andensures a good solid block being formed.

As mentioned above the furrow made by the shares 21 and 22in the upperpart of the block is subsequently tamped out and smoothed over by theaction of the rear tamping head 9 and the smoothing material from thecontainer 16 together with the action of the smoothing piece 1'7.

If required one or more cutter'shares 28 may be fixed to the movableframes 18 19 for the purpose of separating the-plate longitudinally intoany desired number of parallel lengths; The

previously stretched reinforcement is held and clamped.

In front of the commencement of the formin line, that is to the left ofFigure 3, there is located a frame 32 which is shown as furnished withthe number of spools of wire which it is desired to insert in the blocksto be formed. The

spools 33 are indcated as suitably; braked-to provide a certain amountof tension when the wire is drawn off. The frame 32 is traversible in adirection at right angles to the line of forwardmovement of the bogie 3and can thus be brought into operative: position. opposite either of thelines. At the opposite end of the line of forms and attached either tothe wall of the building or to a special frame 40 there is arranged themeans used for stretching the reinforcement wires or the like.

The. reinforcing wires drawn forwards by the travelling bogie 3 andindicated by the reference to a small cross bar 34 and fastened thereto.Thiscross bar 34 is connected 35 which passes over a roller 36 movabletransversely and then over a guide roll 37 to a tension weight 38. Theroll 36 is movably mounted on a shaft 39 which may be adjusted to thedesired height in side guides 40 depending upon the height of the,-layer at which the concrete is being laid. The drawing and stretching ofthe reinforcement is effected as follows:

The reinforcing wires 53 are drawn off from the spools 33 by hand andlaid around the guide rolls 41, then through the guide plates 42 (Figure5). Both the guide rolls 41 and the guide plate 42 are adjustable as toheight. The ends of these wires are fixed to the frame 13 and whenlaying the first set of reinforcing wires the bogie 3 is travelledforwards without laying any concrete. The ends of the wires are thentaken from the frame 13 and fixed to the cross bar 34. The

tension weight- 38 is then brought into actionand the wires are thusstretched. It willbe understood that before fixing the wires tothe-cross plate 12 (see Fig. 2) "andthe' guide-plate 42 (Fig. 5) as wellas the roller 36 are brought to the level of the layer it is desired toform.

After the wires have been tensioned in pairs, the clamp carrier pieces31 hinged to the columns 30 are rotated about 90 degrees '50 that theycome to'rest on the opposite column 30. Thereupon clamping bars or hoops43 are passed over each of the wires of a pair and wedges 44 driven homebetween the wires, 53. The wires 53 are now cut off at both ends justoutside of the wedges 44. The carrier bars 31 then take the tension ofthe wires and transmit this tension to the columns 30. In Figure 3 thestate of the parts when the reinforcing means is all ready laid andstretched in place to receive the eight layer is shown.

On each of the lines of forms there are shown a number of girder bars 45which are set in holes in the concrete bed and can be readily removedwhen desired. After the paper or like separating layer is laid on thebottom of the mould and the wires stretched as described, the sideboards 46 are laid against the girder bars 45 and the line of forming isready to receive the concrete by a travel of the bogie in the directionfrom left to right in Figure 3. The paper for the separating layer isunwound from a suitable roll at the end of the forming line and issimply drawn of! and out after being laid in place. The stamping machineand the filling hopper 2 are set to the height for the next layer andthe operation proceeds as described above. The blocks are tamped overthe previously formed layer which in the meantime has set or hardenedsufficiently to withstand the action of the tamping feet without causingdamage.

The forming line may be so designed that both the girder bars 45 and theside plates 46 are dispensed with. In this case the side boards arereplaced by two side ploughs 47 which by a connecting member 48 arefixed to the frames 19. These plough pieces 47- thus share in therelative forward step movement of the tubes 14.

In this case the separate lines of forming may be brought much closer,say to a distance apart of 5-10 cms. and a large number of parallellines of forms may be arranged on a given fioor area.

The filling of the hopper 2 is effected by means of a traversingcontainer 49 which carries the concrete from the mixing machine to theposition in which the tamping machine is operating without stopping theforward travel of the stamp or bogie 3.

Over the bogie structure there is a top or upper frame 50 which receivesa travelling crane 51 (Figs. 1 and 2). The travel of the crane iseffected by the chain and wheel 52 and the hoisting movement by motor.All the parts are attended to form the platform 5 b. I

By means of this hoisting device the containe 49 is raised from theground, brought to the hopper and emptied. It will be understood that ifdesired the storage silos for the materials of which the concrete ismade as well as the mixing machine may be mounted on the travellingbogie 3 and the prepared concrete then supplied direct from the mixer tothe hopper 2. In this case the operations involved in filling the hopperare dispensed with.

By means of the method and apparatus herein described-it is. possible tomanufacture by mass production methods concrete and like building H g II bloc'ks inanyidesired length,width and thickness bar 34, thewires arethreaded' through the guide and "provided .with' properly stretchedreinforcement and through going cores whilstthe'quality,"of'the.blocksistboth firm and-uniform.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for making concrete and like building blocks, fioorplates and the like, comprising in combination a movable main-frameadapted to travel along slowly and steadily. a

bogie carried by the main-frame and adapted to move transversely towardsthe path of the main-frame, two mould-walls forming the mould andmovably mounted at the lower end of the bogie, two groups of core-piecesmovably carried by the bogie between the mould-walls, a movablemounting-frame (18) carrying the mould-walls and the one group of thecore-pieces, a second movable mounting-frame for carrying the secondgroup of core-pieces, a supporting frame fixed to the bogie andsupporting the two movable mounting-frames, an eccentrical arrange ment,joining rods and driving levers, all mounted on the bogie to impart analternate jerking motion to the two groups of core-pieces and themould-walls, an auxiliary frame carried by ,the main-frame to movetransversely towards the path of the main-frame, a tampingv machine withtampers carried by the bogie and means for driving the main-frame, thebogie, the tamping machine and the eccentrical arrangement.

2. In the apparatus as claimed in claim l,

in connection with the mounting-frame and the 7 groups of core-pieces,at least one separatingblade fixed to the mounting-frame for the onegroup of core-pieces and carrying out a jerking motion together with thelatter to separate the concrete block in its longitudinal direction.

3. An apparatus for making concrete and like move transversely towardsthe path of the maine frame, two mould-walls forming the mould andmovably mounted at the lower end of the bogie,

two groups of core-pieces movably carried by the bogie between themould-walls, a movable mounting-frame (18) carrying the mould-walls andthe one group of the core-pieces, a second movable mounting-frame forcarrying the second group of core-pieces, a supporting-frame fixed tothe bogie and supporting the two movable mounting-frames, an eccentricalarrangement,

joining rods and driving levers, all mounted on the bogie to impart analternate jerking motion to the two groups of core-pieces and themould-walls, an auxiliary frame carried by the main-frame to movetransversely towards the path of the main-frame, a, tamping machine withtampers carried by the'bogie and meansfor driving the main-frame, thebogie, the tamping machine and the eccentrical arrangement, wirespoolsarranged adjustably in a vertical direction at the one end of the pathof the bogie and carrying wire material for reinforcing the concreteblocks to be made, rotatable tensioning ,yokes (31) adjustably mountedat both ends of the path of the bogie-path and showing openings for thepassage of the reinforcing elements passed along in the mould over thewhole path of the bogie in tensioned condition, means'for clamping thetensioned reinforcing elements at the one tensioning yoke, a connectingbar (34) arranged at the end of the path opposite to the wire-spools andserving for fixing the wiresto be stretched, a. guiding pulley (36)adjustably mounted in a vertical direction, drawing organs --mentsrespectively.

. andtensioning weights for putting under tension the connecting bar andthe reinforcing ele- 4. In the apparatus claimed in claim 3, in

